Newly launched Fast Casual magazine to cover growth of the industry

LOUISVILLE,KY, October 18, 2005 NetWorld Alliance announced today the launch of Fast Casual Magazine and the re-launch of fastcasual.com. The fast-casual restaurant segment has been the quickest growing segment of the $400 billion restaurant market for the past several years. Fastcasual.com has remained the longest running news tracking group of the fast-casual market since 2000 and now expands its media coverage with the launch of Fast Casual Magazine. Many analysts view the fast-casual market as the next evolution in the fast-services segment of the restaurant industry. As the quick-service restaurant industry faces new consumer challenges, the morphing of the restaurant industry is in full stride. Paul Barron, restaurant innovator and publisher of Fast Casual Magazine, identified the trend in the late 90's and began tracking its momentum with industry-leading coverage on the flourishing market and the development of fastcasual.com.

Subscribe NOW!

"Over the past seven years, there has been strategic concept development in the restaurant industry, which is propelled by a new age of consumer demand. When you consider the growth of the fast-casual restaurant market, it parallels the savvy growth of the online and empowered consumer in many ways," explains Barron. Icon brands like Starbucks, Panera, Chipotle,Qdoba,PeiWei, and Cold Stone have proved that consumers are expanding their expectations of the fast-services sector of restaurants.

Fast Casual Magazine is the only dedicated source focused on the transformation of the fast-services restaurant in the iPod era. "Ten years ago, brand building was a slow and tedious process. Today, like many Internet and tech companies, fast-casual concepts can embed themselves into the main stream consumer radar in just a few short years," states Barron. They offer a blend of menu, quality, experience, and price not available previously in the restaurant industry. Consumers have created an unparalleled demand for fast-casual restaurants.

Channel Mixing Barron has several compelling reasons why fast casual is so important in the development of the restaurant industry, which he refers to as "the emergence of channel mixing." Consider these facts: Quick service is in a state of flux as it continues to build new menus and new concepts and improve the in-store ambiance at a record pace. The casual dining sector discovered something very unique in '98 and '99—takeout convenience. This move has contributed to large incremental sales numbers based on the out-of-restaurant experience. A domino effect began of major chains such as Outback, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, Applebee's, and many more to offer curbside to-go service. The convenience factor has now spanned across three major segments of the restaurant industry with fast casual blending the best of both markets and holding the position in the middle. Quick service is ramping up to fast-casual offerings, and casual dining is blending convenience with their offering, which is literally . . . fast casual.

Growth of the fast-casual segment is expected to exceed $70 billion in 2006 with contribution from more than 150 key brands. Considering the channel-mixing aspect as revenue, and market share is much higher with a broader reach and greater consumer appeal.

About NetWorldAlliance In addition to Fast Casual Magazine and fastcasual.com, the NetWorld food-service media division also consists of pizzamarketplace.com, QSRweb.com, the Pizzaria Operators Guide, and the Quick Service Restaurant Report. NetWorld Alliance also publishes Self-Service World Magazine, kioskmarketplace.com, atmmarketplace.com, and an array of self-service business publications. NetWorld is also the founder of the Self-Service and Kiosk Association and the operator of the Self-Service and Kiosk Show.

For more information about Fast Casual Magazine, contact: NetWorld Alliance, LLCLouisville,KY40223(502) 243-2741×250 Paul Barron, Publisher paulb@networldalliance.com 405-227-9582